The Orleans Parish School Board is set to approve new superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr.’s contract at a special meeting Thursday.
The New Orleans native will earn a base salary of $180,000 per year in addition to benefits, according to the four-year contract. The district will provide him with a monthly stipend of $1,000 to cover work-related travel within the city in his personal vehicle. That brings his yearly guaranteed earnings for the first year to $192,000.
Lewis’ contract includes the potential to earn up to a $10,000 bonus each year. He would earn that if he met two of the performance objectives detailed in the contract; if he meets one, he will earn $5,000.
Lewis will earn a 3 percent raise each year he receives a good review. That has the potential to push his $180,000 base salary to $197,000 in the last year of the contract.
His health and retirement benefits as well as sick time will be the same as the board provides to all other 12-month employees.
He previously worked for the Algiers Charter School Association. And he brings experience both as a superintendent and a member of the St. Bernard Parish School Board. Lewis is now the superintendent of the East Feliciana Parish school system. The contract goes into effect March 16.
Interim superintendent Stan Smith held the district’s top spot for more than two and a half years through several searches. He earns $160,000 a year; the district does not provide him with a car.
The School Board currently oversees 14 charter schools and six direct-run schools. The charter schools are largely autonomous, and report to the deputy superintendent of charter schools for broad oversight of academic and financial health. The schools set their own curriculum and calendar and hire all personnel under their own boards and administrations.
The board will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
